Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the deposition of Oba Joseph Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu following the monarch’s conviction in the United States on charges bordering on tax fraud and money laundering.
The decision marks a major development in the controversy surrounding the traditional ruler, whose legal troubles abroad had generated widespread public debate within and outside Osun State. The state government said the action became necessary to preserve the integrity and dignity of the traditional institution after the monarch was found guilty by a U.S. court.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson to the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the deposition followed the formal receipt of the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered by a court in Ohio, United States, which convicted Oba Oloyede on multiple criminal counts.
The statement explained that the Osun State Executive Council had earlier resolved that official government action should only be based on authenticated legal documents rather than media reports or public speculation.
Rasheed noted that the council had taken the decision last year to direct the Ministry of Local Government to formally contact the Ohio court and obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment before any constitutional or administrative action could be taken against the monarch.
According to the statement, the government insisted that due process must be followed in handling such a sensitive matter involving a traditional ruler and the revered stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu.
“The Council had justified the decision to contact the Ohio court on the ground that governmental decisions should not be based on social media reporting alone,” the statement read.
The government stated that after reviewing the official judgment and the details of the conviction, Governor Adeleke approved the deposition order on May 7, 2026.
The statement further disclosed that the governor’s action was guided by the need to maintain peace, order, and good governance in the state, while also protecting the sanctity and honour of the traditional institution.
According to the deposition order signed by the governor, the conduct of Oba Oloyede, as established by the U.S. court proceedings and his guilty plea, had brought the royal institution into public disrepute.
“The fraudulent conduct of Oba Joseph Oloyede, as found by the U.S. court and which he pleaded guilty to, and his public trial and conviction have brought the institution of Obaship and the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu to disrepute and public odium, hence the resort to deposition,” the statement added.
The development follows earlier reports that Oba Oloyede had been sentenced by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on August 26, 2025.
The monarch was reportedly sentenced to 56 months imprisonment after being convicted of offences including wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
The conviction attracted significant public attention both in Nigeria and within the Ipetumodu community, with many stakeholders calling for decisive action from the Osun State Government regarding the monarch’s continued occupancy of the throne.
Traditional institutions across Yorubaland are generally regarded as symbols of honour, moral authority, and cultural identity, making the criminal conviction of a monarch a particularly sensitive issue.
Observers say the state government’s decision reflects growing pressure on public institutions to uphold ethical standards and accountability regardless of social status or traditional influence.
Following the deposition, the Osun State Government declared the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu vacant.
Rasheed stated that the necessary traditional and administrative processes for selecting and appointing a new monarch would commence at the appropriate time in accordance with the customs and laws guiding the stool.
“By this deposition, the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been declared vacant, while the necessary process will be put in place to appoint a new Apetumodu of Ipetumodu at the appropriate time,” the statement said.
The government also appealed to residents and indigenes of Ipetumodu to remain calm and peaceful throughout the transition process.
Governor Adeleke urged members of the community to continue to respect constituted authority and avoid actions capable of creating tension or instability while arrangements for a new traditional ruler are being made.
“The governor appeals to sons and daughters of Ipetumodu to remain peaceful and law-abiding while the process of installing a new king is being processed,” Rasheed added.
The deposition has already triggered reactions across political, legal, and traditional circles, with many describing it as one of the rare instances where a serving monarch was formally removed from office following an overseas criminal conviction.
Some legal analysts argued that the move reinforces the principle that public office holders, including traditional rulers, remain accountable to the law and ethical standards regardless of status or influence.
Others noted that the decision could serve as a precedent for future cases involving traditional rulers facing criminal allegations either within or outside Nigeria.
Community leaders in Ipetumodu are expected to begin consultations in the coming weeks regarding succession arrangements and the selection process for a new Apetumodu.
The Osun State Government has not yet announced a timeline for the commencement of the formal selection process, but officials indicated that due process and traditional customs would be strictly observed.
The removal of Oba Oloyede now brings an end to a reign overshadowed by international criminal proceedings and legal controversy, while opening a new chapter for the historic Ipetumodu royal stool.
